Arewa, Ohaneze urge FG to release Biafra agitators

- The ACF and Ohaneze Ndigbo met in Enugu to have a closed door meeting

- The two groups applauded the move and promised to continue to meet to discuss issues affecting the country

- They jointly called for the release of Biafra agitators

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have sent a message to the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration condemning the killing of members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) and have called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

The groups called for the release of Kanu,Okechukwu Isiguzoro and other detained members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB).

Alhaji Ibrahim Coommasie who is the chairman of the northern group said the closed door meeting was to jointly look at some issues.

“It was a closed door meeting. Despite the fact that we did not make it open, we condemned the killing of the unarmed Biafran agitators and called on the Federal government to release the detained Biafran agitators from Nnamdi Kanu to Ben Onwuka and to compensate those who lost their lives. We enjoyed our stay in Enugu and Nsukka.

“We are happy that all is well and this is the beginning of greater things to come in Nigeria. If the various groups should be coming together to discuss issues affecting Nigeria, then it will be good for the country.”

Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey who is the president of the Igbo elite group expressed pleasure at the meeting and that it would help to solve some of the country’s problem.

“It means that we don’t need to come to the north to address issues; it means that we will contact Arewa to tell them about the problems confronting our people. The major issue is that we are starting on a good note of cooperation that will ensure that we have other good results in the future. These meetings will be very regular.”

In a communiqué jointly signed by the two groups, the ACF and Ohanaeze stated that at “the end of our discussion, we have resolved to issue this press statement.

“That the ACF and Ohanaeze Ndigbo reaffirm their belief in the corporate existence of Nigeria with justice, fairness and equity to all.

“We support wholeheartedly, the war against insurgency in the north east and commend the effort of our gallant soldiers and the encouragement given to them by the Federal government.

“We extend our condolences to the Federal government and families of the bereaved and equally sympathise with families of those who lost their lives in the various IDP camps.

“We support the Federal government’s war on corruption and call on the Federal government to sustain this effort and call on Nigerians also to cooperate with the Federal government.

“ACF and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have agreed to meet regularly to discuss the state of the nation and forward our discussion to the Federal government to aid good and equitable governance.

“We will also continue to meet with our other brothers- the Afenifere, the South-South People’s Assembly, the Itsekiri, the Urhobo and many other socio-cultural groups to promote peaceful coexistence and unity of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, more problems seem to be brewing in the already troubled Ohaneze Ndigbo, as some leaders of the group lashed out at Governor Rochas Okorocha for stepping into the leadership crisis rocking the group.